British businesses’ confidence rose 4 points to +53% in August, its highest level since March and above the 12-month average of +47%, according to Lloyds. Optimism about the wider economy climbed to +49%, businesses’ own trading outlook rose to +58%, and the share of firms planning price increases fell to 51%, its lowest level since 2022. Portugal’s business confidence indicator edged up to 2.9 in August 2026 from 2.8 in July, its highest since February, while consumer confidence improved to -20.5. In the Euro Area, industrial confidence rose to -5.3 from -6.1, its strongest reading since April 2023 and close to expectations of -5.2, as stronger production expectations and lower finished-goods stocks offset weaker current order books. Eurozone service-sector confidence increased to 5.8 from an upwardly revised 5.1, a seven-month high that exceeded expectations of 4.9, supported by improved recent business activity and incoming-demand expectations.